Cameras in 2013: what we can expect

The cameras and camera tech we want to see

It wouldn't take much of a leap of imagination for someone to integrate this functionality into the already pretty sophisticated apps and gadgets that enable us to adjust our camera settings and fire the shutter remotely. It might do this either using a dedicated piece of hardware or a software-based solution.

As well as extending the possibilities of remote camera control in a general sense, this could also be a useful advancement to aid visually impaired users and photographers with physical disabilities.

Touchscreen displays

The screens adorning the backs of our cameras have come on in leaps and bounds over the past year, firstly in terms of resolution and size, then we started to see improvements in the responsiveness of touch-sensitive devices.

Then touchscreens began to trickle out of the compact camera market to infiltrate the CSC sector, with the first-of-its-kind touchscreen finally making its debut on a DSLR with the recent launch of the Canon EOS 650D.

With the enhancements we've seen in the usability and responsiveness of capacitive touchscreens of late, we don't think it will be long before we start seeing more of these on subsequent DSLR launches in 2013.

Wearable cameras

With the introduction of devices such as the Memoto wearable camera - designed to automatically capture snapshots of your daily life - we could see more products following along these lines.

With the continuing boom of social networking and file sharing websites - plus Wi-Fi innovations such as Cloud storage - and their influence on the way in which we all share key events in our lives, perhaps we'll start to see more devices capable of capturing and wirelessly uploading content from small cameras worn every day.

The result could be a constantly updating record of your life - complete with GPS location data - with additional scope for users to tag and caption their shots, plus potential for integration of face recognition software and more besides.

New cameras in 2013

In addition to some of the more fanciful predictions we could make about the future of camera technology, there are a few things that are more certain: the fact that - barring global catastrophe - manufacturers are going to keep replacing old camera models with new ones.

Among the possible newcomers we're hoping to see are a Nikon D400, Nikon D8000, Nikon D4x and a replacement for the popular Nikon D90 and Nikon D300s models.

Olympus is also expected to continue to develop its superb range of petite-yet-powerful cameras, with advancements to its PEN series range on the cards. We know that the Olympus Pen P3 is ripe for replacement.

Panasonic too is about due to update its excellent G-series cameras, with hopes high for a Panasonic GX2 and a Panasonic GF6 in particular.

With the rise in popularity of more manageable bodied full frame DSLRs, we may also see the technology filtering down through the DSLR hierarchy and becoming more commonplace among the more affordable areas of the market. However, the latter isn't likely to occur with any immediacy, due to current manufacturing costs.

Sony's NEX range of CSCs and its pioneering DSLT cameras have both seen a real boost in terms of the level of versatility each system offers and their resulting overall popularity. We expect this success to continue for Sony in 2013, provided it continues to evolve the technologies it's already grabbed our attention with in 2012.

Could we start to see CSCs and DSLT cameras finally truly matching DSLRs for their functionality and image quality, or even integrating full frame sensors? Time will tell...

Future or fiction?

A lot's happened in the digital camera market over the past year, and it's easy to get carried away with ideas about what the New Year might herald.

As well as the ideas already mentioned, we can see scope for further developments in EVF technology, bringing these closer into line with their optical rivals. We also see potential for wackier ideas, such as hybrid devices that integrate the functionality of a digital camera with that of a tablet running Android, and featuring a removable, wirelessly connected touchscreen interface.

Whether or not we see some - or any - of the above developments becoming reality remains to be seen: roll on 2013!